Water

Which of these photos shows permeable interlocking concrete paving? Both! A concrete grid system (left) was once the only permeable option. As municipalities have increased pressure on developers to minimize storm water runoff, a number of attractive permeable pavers like Permea (right) have come on the market. These concrete pavers look like cobblestone, brick, or traditional pavers, but spacers allow water to flow between them, when filled with a fine, clean aggregate. Much of the flooding in urban and…

This peastone driveway is dressed up by a granite cobble apron. We used a new product, a polymeric stone dust, in the joints of the cobbles. I’m very happy with how it is holding up after the winter, with no wash-out that we would see in such wide joints filled only with stone dust. The whole drive is permeable, making it a great option for sites needing to offset the impervious area of an addition…

Sometimes events converge and you have to pay attention. Before Thanksgiving, I met with a local pastor about converting the church lawn into a community garden. She is looking for the perfect piece of art as a focal point. Then there was a thread on The Underground, a local landscape design forum, about outdoor art. Just had to share some of the finds: Rock Art Studios – Custom outdoor mosaic art, fountains, and lights. …